Sri Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple - Another temple that is under the management of Chettiars' Temple Society, is located in the center of China Town at the junction of Keong Saik Road and Kreta Ayer Road. Nagarthars also called, Nattukottai Chettiars are famous money lending community from Southern part of Tamilnadu, India.

This temple that was built in 1925, has a very long history. Thiru Muthu Palaniappan Chettiar has written in his book about the temple’s history and the Lord Vinayagar being worshipped in the temple.

Thiru A. Palaniappan has written in both English and Tamil about the history of this temple in the "Singapore Hindu" magazine (Section 1 Issue 5 1994 January - March) . The excerpt from his article is as follows.

In 1920, the government acquired the temple land as part of the hospital extension plan and gave a sum of money to the Nagarathars. The Nagarathars then bought the current land and built the temple grandly by spending a huge amount of money. During the construction of the new temple, the Nagarathars found the Vinayagar Idol at the old temple near the hospital in a dilapidated condition. So, they decided to bring a new Black Stone Vinayagar Idol from India. As per the religious agamas (Procedures), the dilapidated idol was to be immersed at sea. But, few Nagarathars felt that it would be a breach of promise made to Thiru Ponnambala Swamigal.

Hence the Nagarathars decided to install the new Black Stone Vinayagar Idol as the main deity and at the same time the old idol was also installed in front of the main deity at the sanctum. Similarly, the Naagar and "Rama Namam" were also installed in the sanctum next to the Vinayagar. In addition, the Nagarathars also installed a Holy Vel (Holy Spear) symbolising Lord Muruga. This new temple was called "Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple" as it was located at the "Sepoy Line" (army quarters) After the new temple was built, the Nagarathars started the practice of Silver Chariot Procession to Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple on the day before Thai Pusam. The procession started at Tank Road and went through Market Street, a business spot of the Chettiars and reached the Layan Sithi Vinayagar Temple finally.

The Nagarathars who were doing pawn broker business at Kittangis (Warehouse shops) had with them idols of several deities for daily worshipping. One Mr. Pichappa Chettiar was well known in the society at that time. He also served as the trustee of Tank Road Sri Thendayuthapani Temple for some time. He donated his Vinayagar idol to the temple when the government acquired the Kittangis that was functioning at Market Street. This idol was also installed as the third Vinayagar idol at the temple’s sanctum.

The Nagarathars conducted the last three consecration ceremony for the temple in 1973, 1989 and 2007. The recent consecration was done in a grand manner on 16.12.2007, Sunday. Nagarathars spend almost S $ 3.5 million in redesigning and renovating the temple. A beautiful 5 storey Rajagopuram has been added and side walls have been removed to have an open concept inner-pragaram. A multipurpose hall also is being constructed besides the temple. Although the temple is located at the busy and bustling China Town, the inner-pragaram (the path encircling the main sanctum) is very calm and is suitable for meditation. Vinayagar Chathurthi is one of the major festivals celebrated grandly at the temple. It is the holy Vel (Holy Spear) that is in this temple been taken in procession to Tank Road Sri Thendayuthapani Temple for the Thai Pusam festival. The milk offered for Lord Muruga on Thai Pusam day is poured on to this Holy Vel. Special prayers and offerings on Tamil New Year, Deepavali, Thiru Karthigai, Pongal are performed first at this temple before being performed at Sri Thendayuthapani temple. On Fridays and Sundays, one can see lot of worshippers making 108 Pragarams to fulfill their owes. As mentioned above, the temple now has three Vinayagar idols and its worshippers are well blessed with peace and wealth.